Note; The printed publications of the Rules of Golf and Official Guide are intended for golf administrators, referees and officials and rules enthusiasts. This used to come with a heavy sanction. Failing to put your handicap on your scorecard meant disqualification. Now, an amendment to Rule 3.3b (4) means you are no longer required to show your handicap on your scorecard. When you drop a ball, stand up straight and drop the ball from KNEE HEIGHT. The ball mustn't touch your body or equipment in the act of dropping the ball.

2023 Rules of Golf: The Golf Rule Changes You Need to Know

What the last four years have shown is that, overall, we’re very pleased with what we did in 2019 with the modernisation process and it’s been a great success,” Moir continued. The updated version of the Rules of Golf came into effect January 1 st and to complement the rollout, golf’s governing bodies have published two important publications to communicate the updates. You’ve all used this when taking relief from a penalty area or an unplayable ball. The procedure has been made a little easier in the 2023 Rule Book. Now, when you drop your ball on the line, the ball must come to rest within a club-length of where it is dropped. That club length can be in any direction (yes, that means forward!). You CANNOT have your caddie line you up before the shot. They can give you advice where to hit the ball and advise you on the line of the putt but when it's time to hit, you have to aim and set up by yourself. You can't have the caddie stand behind you to tell you that you're lined up okay. Each rules case is illustrated, allowing players to identify the correct way to proceed at a glance.We are also working to ensure golf has a sustainable long-term future and making more resources available digitally is key to achieving that goal.” The rule has now been amended so if a ball played from the putting green hits the player, the club the player used to make the stroke, an insect or similar animal defined as a loose impediment, the stroke counts and the ball is played as it lies.

Rules Changes for 2023 – Golf Rules Guru Main Rules Changes for 2023 – Golf Rules Guru

A new exception has been added to Rule 9.3 which says a ball at rest must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course after being dropped, placed, or replaced. This is also the case if the ball comes to rest out of bounds. Anyone can hold the flag for anyone else. You can also ask for information that is public knowledge like where the water hazards are and distances on the sprinklers your friend is standing next to. If your putt stops just on the edge of the hole, you can wait 10 seconds to see if it goes in. If it takes longer than 10 seconds to drop in, you count that drop into the hole as a shot. You can only ask your caddy for advice on how to play the hole. This means you can't ask another player which club he hit, or how you should putt the ball or which club you should use etc. For social rounds, this doesn't really apply and is probably the most broken rule in golf so gauge who you're playing with and listen to them speak to each other before engaging in breaking this rule. My friends and I always tell each other what club we hit.

These two publications cover the rules of golf and provide helpful insights for those involved in the game.